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At least 397 records · Page 22
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DOE OSTI2025

Hidden amplitude zeros from the double-copy map

Recently, Arkani-Hamed proposed the existence of zeros in scattering amplitudes in certain quantum field theories including the cubic adjoint scalar theory Tr ( ϕ 3 ) , the S U ( N ) nonlinear sigma model and Yang-Mills theory. These hidden zeros are special kinematic points where the amplitude vanishes and factorizes into a product of lower-point amplitudes, similar to factorization near poles. In this paper, we show a close connection between the existence of such zeros and the double-copy map. In fact, compatibility with the Bern-Carrasco-Johansson relations requires the presence of these zeros. We also show that these zeros extend via the Kawai-Lewellen-Tye relations to special Galileon amplitudes and their corrections, evincing that these hidden zeros are also present in permutation-invariant amplitudes. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Bartsch, Christoph (ORCID:0000000174296682)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nonrenormalization and Operator Mixing via On-Shell Methods

Using on-shell methods, we present a new perturbative nonrenormalization theorem for operator mixing in massless four-dimensional quantum field theories. By examining how unitarity cuts of form factors encode anomalous dimensions, we show that longer operators are often restricted from renormalizing shorter operators at the first order where Feynman diagrams exist. The theorem applies quite generally and depends only on the field content of the operators involved. We apply our theorem to operators of dimension five through seven in the standard model effective field theory, including examples of nontrivial zeros in the anomalous-dimension matrix at one through four loops. The zeros at two and higher loops go beyond those previously explained using helicity selection rules. We also include explicit sample calculations at two loops.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Spacetime quantum mechanics for bosonic and fermionic systems

We provide a Hilbert space approach to quantum mechanics where space and time are treated on an equal footing. Our approach replaces the standard dependence on an external classical time parameter with a spacetime-symmetric algebraic structure, thereby unifying the axioms that traditionally distinguish the treatment of spacelike and timelike separations. Standard quantum evolution can be recovered from timelike correlators, defined by means of a quantum action operator, a quantum version of the action of classical mechanics. The corresponding map also provides an alternative perspective on the path integral formulation that, in the case of fermions, does not require the use of Grassmann variables. In addition, the formalism can be interpreted in terms of generalized quantum states, codifying both the conventional information of a quantum system at a given time and its evolution. We show that these states are solutions to a quantum principle of stationary action grounded in timelike correlations and pseudo-entropies.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

An experiment for electron-hadron scattering at the LHC

Abstract Novel considerations are presented on the physics, apparatus and accelerator designs for a future, luminous, energy frontier electron-hadron ( eh ) scattering experiment at the LHC in the thirties for which key physics topics and their relation to the hadron-hadron HL-LHC physics programme are discussed. Demands are derived set by these physics topics on the design of the LHeC detector, a corresponding update of which is described. Optimisations on the accelerator design, especially the interaction region (IR), are presented. Initial accelerator considerations indicate that a common IR is possible to be built which alternately could serve eh and hh collisions while other experiments would stay on hh in either condition. A forward-backward symmetrised option of the LHeC detector is sketched which would permit extending the LHeC physics programme to also include aspects of hadron-hadron physics. The vision of a joint eh and hh physics experiment is shown to open new prospects for solving fundamental problems of high energy heavy-ion physics including the partonic structure of nuclei and the emergence of hydrodynamics in quantum field theory while the genuine TeV scale DIS physics is of unprecedented rank.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Recent progress in basis light-front quantization

Basis Light-front Quantization (BLFQ) is a nonperturbative approach to quantum field theory. Here, in this paper, we report our recent progress in applying BLFQ to the positronium system in QED and to the meson and the baryon system in QCD. We present preliminary results on the mass spectrum, light-front wave functions and other observables of these systems, where one dynamical gauge boson is retained for the positronium and meson systems.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Improving inference with matrix elements and machine learning

Particle physics processes bring together a high-energy amplitude described by quantum field theory and nonperturbative effects and detector interactions described by complex computer simulations. We review some recently developed multivariate inference techniques that leverage this structure and combine matrix-element information with machine learning. Automated by the MadMiner package, the new techniques have been applied to multiple problems in particle physics, allowing for stronger limits than traditional analysis methods and showing their potential to improve the sensitivity of the LHC legacy measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Exploring 2 + 2 answers to 3 + 1 questions

We explore potential uses of physics formulated in Kleinian (i.e. 2 + 2) signature spacetimes as a tool for understanding properties of physics in Lorentzian (i.e. 3 + 1) signature. Much as Euclidean (i.e. 4 + 0) signature quantities can be used to formally construct the ground state wavefunction of a Lorentzian signature quantum field theory, a similar analytic continuation to Kleinian signature constructs a state of low particle flux in the direction of analytic continuation. There is also a natural supersymmetry algebra available in 2 + 2 signature, which serves to constrain the structure of correlation functions. Spontaneous breaking of Lorentz symmetry can produce various [Formula: see text] supersymmetry algebras that in 3 + 1 signature correspond to nonsupersymmetric systems. We speculate on the possible role of these structures in addressing the cosmological constant problem.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Anomalies of non-invertible symmetries in (3+1)d

Anomalies of global symmetries are important tools for understanding the dynamics of quantum systems. We investigate anomalies of non-invertible symmetries in 3+1d using 4+1d bulk topological quantum field theories given by Abelian two-form gauge theories, with a 0-form permutation symmetry. Gauging the 0-form symmetry gives the 4+1d “inflow” symmetry topological field theory for the non-invertible symmetry. We find a two levels of anomalies: (1) the bulk may fail to have an appropriate set of loop excitations which can condense to trivialize the boundary dynamics, and (2) the “Frobenius-Schur indicator” of the non-invertible symmetry (generalizing the Frobenius-Schur indicator of 1+1d fusion categories) may be incompatible with trivial boundary dynamics. As a consequence we derive conditions for non-invertible symmetries in 3+1d to be compatible with symmetric gapped phases, and invertible gapped phases. Along the way, we see that the defects characterizing \mathbb{Z}_{4} ℤ 4 ordinary symmetry host worldvolume theories with time-reversal symmetry \mathsf{T} 𝖳 obeying the algebra \mathsf{T}^{2}=C 𝖳 2 = C or \mathsf{T}^{2}=(-1)^{F}C, 𝖳 2 = ( − 1 ) F C , with C C a unitary charge conjugation symmetry. We classify the anomalies of this symmetry algebra in 2+1d and further use these ideas to construct 2+1d topological orders with non-invertible time-reversal symmetry that permutes anyons. As a concrete realization of our general discussion, we construct new lattice Hamiltonian models in 3+1d with non-invertible symmetry, and constrain their dynamics.

Córdova, Clay↗
DOE OSTI2025

Learning the simplicity of scattering amplitudes

The simplification and reorganization of complex expressions lies at the core of scientific progress, particularly in theoretical high-energy physics. This work explores the application of machine learning to a particular facet of this challenge: the task of simplifying scattering amplitudes expressed in terms of spinor-helicity variables. We demonstrate that an encoder-decoder transformer architecture achieves impressive simplification capabilities for expressions composed of handfuls of terms. Lengthier expressions are implemented in an additional embedding network, trained using contrastive learning, which isolates subexpressions that are more likely to simplify. The resulting framework is capable of reducing expressions with hundreds of terms—a regular occurrence in quantum field theory calculations—to vastly simpler equivalent expressions. Starting from lengthy input expressions, our networks can generate the Parke-Taylor formula for five-point gluon scattering, as well as new compact expressions for five-point amplitudes involving scalars and gravitons.

Cheung, Clifford [California Institute of Technolo↗
DOE OSTI2025

Remote detectability from entanglement bootstrap I: Kirby’s torus trick

Remote detectability is often taken as a physical assumption in the study of topologically ordered systems, and it is a central axiom of mathematical frameworks of topological quantum field theories. We show under the entanglement bootstrap approach that remote detectability is a necessary property; that is, we derive it as a theorem. Starting from a single wave function on a topologically-trivial region satisfying the entanglement bootstrap axioms, we can construct states on closed manifolds. The crucial technique is to immerse the punctured manifold into the topologically trivial region and then heal the puncture. This is analogous to Kirby’s torus trick. We then analyze a special class of such manifolds, which we call pairing manifolds. For each pairing manifold, which pairs two classes of excitations, we identify an analog of the topological S S -matrix. This pairing matrix is unitary, which implies remote detectability between two classes of excitations. These matrices are in general not associated with the mapping class group of the manifold. As a by-product, we can count excitation types (e.g., graph excitations in 3+1d). The pairing phenomenon occurs in many physical contexts, including systems in different dimensions, with or without gapped boundaries. We provide a variety of examples to illustrate its scope.

Shi, Bowen (ORCID:0000000206899964)↗
DOE OSTI2024

All about the neutron from lattice QCD

I describe how simulations of lattice QCD using the path integral formulation provide the two basic quantum mechanical properties of QCD, its ground state in which correlation functions are calculated, and Fock state wavefunctions between which matrix elements of operators are calculated. Both constructs are stochastic, so unfortunately one gets no intuitive picture or even qualitative understanding of what they look like, nevertheless they contain and display all the subtleties of the quantum field theory. Today, these simulations provide many quantities that are impacting phenomenology and experiments. I illustrate the methods and the steps in the analysis using, as examples, three observables: the isovector charges of the nucleon, the contribution of the quark’s intrinsic spin to the nucleon spin, and the pion-nucleon sigma term.

Gupta, Rajan (ORCID:0000000317843058)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Higher-order $β$-functions in the Standard Model and beyond

In this contribution we consider the recent computation of the gauge coupling \beta β -function at four loops and the Yukawa matrix \beta β -function at three loops in the most general, renormalizable and four-dimensional quantum field theory. Furthermore, we discuss ambiguities and divergences arising in Yukawa matrix \beta β -functions.

Herren, Florian↗
DOE OSTI2020

Leveraging the Higgs to Discover Physics Beyond the Standard Model (Final Technical Report)

The discovery of an apparently Standard Model-like Higgs at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) heralds the start of a new era in particle physics. While the Higgs marks the completion of the Standard Model framework, it offers far more opportunities in the search for physics beyond the Standard Model. The Higgs boson raises a pressing theoretical problem known as the hierarchy problem: why is an elementary scalar particle so light when quantum corrections tie its mass to the highest energy scales? The Higgs also provides an unprecedented experimental opportunity as a bellwether of new physics: it may be merely the first of several states in the electroweak symmetry breaking sector, while its production and decays may provide unique evidence for additional particles. Research supported by this award leveraged the Higgs boson to explore new physics from both directions, developing novel approaches to solving the hierarchy problem posed by the Higgs boson and directly employing the Higgs as a new tool for discovery. Given that null results at the LHC and other experiments have begun to endanger conventional approaches to the hierarchy problem, research supported by the award identified original solutions to the hierarchy problem wherein the lightest degrees of freedom protecting the Higgs boson carry no Standard Model quantum numbers and thus evade existing searches. The PI's approach combined standard tools of quantum field theory with novel applications of the orbifold reduction of continuous symmetries to define the framework of "neutral naturalness'' and explore its experimental consequences across the energy, intensity, and cosmic frontiers. In employing the Higgs directly as a tool for discovery, research supported by this award articulated a systematic approach to searching for extensions of the Higgs sector at the LHC and pursued four key avenues through which the Higgs can be used to uncover new physics across a range of experiments: (1) as a direct final state probe; (2) as an indirect probe through its couplings; (3) as a portal to states neutral under the Standard Model; and (4) as a source of exotic processes in displaced decays.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Theoretical Investigations in Elementary Particle Physics and Cosmological Physics

The goals of this project were to improve our understanding of the fundamental constituents of the universe, at both the smallest and largest scales. At the smallest scales, we examined the masses and mixings of neutrinos, to understand and probe for physics beyond the Standard Model at the LHC, and to explore models in quantum field theory. At the largest scales, we investigated the sources of high-energy neutrinos and cosmic rays, the nature of dark matter, and the behavior of dark energy. This report centers on the final extension period, which was focused on publications of the research.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Simulations for HEP with SQMS Quantum Hardware (Snowmass2021 - Letter of Interest)

The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center, a Fermilab lead NQI center, will develop and deploy a beyond state of the art quantum computers. These systems will exhibit long coherent times, and a high degree of connectivity. We are interested in exploring the utility of these devices to address computational challenges in HEP, such as the simulation of strongly coupled quantum field theories. A progression of toy models and simulations can begin to chart a course towards simulating QCD-like systems.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Scattering Amplitudes and QFT Insight (Final Scientific Report)

The calculation of scattering amplitudes provides an invariant window into the physical dynamic content of relativistic quantum field theory. Yet with traditional methods, for empirically relevant theories, these calculations scale with a factorial complexity in external particles and precision. If we aspire to collapse the theoretical uncertainty obscuring new physics hidden at all scales from the microscopic probed at high energy colliders to the largest effective field theory in the universe governing the evolution of large scale structure, this complexity challenge necessitates new ideas and methods in calculation. Novel approaches like the color-kinematics duality and the associated double-copy construction have drastically simplified the situation, relating both gauge and gravity theory predictions to a much smaller kernel of invariant kinematic data. This project supporting research by the PI's Amplitudes and Insights group at Northwestern University looked to push insight deep into both the IR and the UV by establishing how novel structures must constrain the predictions of counterterms in both gauge and gravity theories, setting the groundwork to exploring the high energy behavior of particular gravity theories via constituent gauge-theory calculations, and confronting fundamental challenges at the interface between QFT amplitudes analysis and next generation gravitational wave science as well as well as inflationary and large scale structure cosmology.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗